Prank Night Fall Out

49. Awakened

Pairing: Elijah/Aaron Whitmore (M/m) hand, mild

Lockwood Mansion

After School

Caroline and Tyler went to the Lockwood mansion after their activities that evening.

"Tyler, let's just head up to your room. I still didn't get to thank you for my new necklace," Caroline giggled suggestively as they walked in the foyer.

"Care, you don't have to thank me, but if you want to fool around, let's go," Tyler laughed.

"Ah!" Caroline exclaimed, started. "Oh."

"Uncle Mason! Hey, um, we were just going to go study in my ah, room," Tyler said quickly. He didn't notice the stern look on his uncle's usual mild face.

"Caroline, did I hear you say my nephew got you a necklace?" Mason said casually.

"Oh yes, it's gold. It's a locket. Isn't it pretty? Tyler's so sweet," Caroline gushed unabatedly.

Mason admired the locket politely, "I think you had better go home. Did you drive here?"

Caroline looked confused, "Yeah, I did drive. But we just got here."

"Honey, I don't think you want to see what's gonna happen. Tyler, walk Caroline to the door," Mason said giving Tyler an assertive glance.

Tyler obeyed and told Caroline he would call her later. When she left, Tyler turned to Mason with an angry stance.

"Uncle Mason, what the hell is going on? If this is about me not cleaning up my fucking room, you can tell my mom to shove it up her-."

Mason snapped, "Don't, Tyler. This isn't about your goddamn room. It's about the money you have been stealing from your mom's purse." It had taken everything in Mason not to slap Tyler against the face, but he knew that wouldn't get them anywhere.

Tyler had opened his mouth to protest and then clamped it shut, "Oh."

"You don't deny it?" Mason accused.

Tyler froze, for a moment he was tempted to lie, but then didn't.

Tyler beseeched, "I meant to pay her back. Honest. Uncle Mason, please don't tell her. Give me another chance."

Mason gibed, "Too late, bud. Your mom and I watched you do it multiple times on video."

Tyler felt sick, "I'm sorry. I don't know what to say."

"You stole from your own family, man. There ain't much you can say. All you had to do was clean up your room and throw your dirty clothes in the laundry, Tyler. But instead you rob your mom and use it to cozy up to your girl. Are you proud of yourself?" Mason challenged.

Tyler faltered, "N-No, I'm not. Where's my mom? Is she mad at me? I was gonna pay her back. Really, Uncle Mason, you gotta believe me."

"She had meetings and some charity thing," Mason explained. "I'll be honest. I don't even think your behavior has sunken in. You know, you keep chugging around as if you are invincible. You do what you want, when you want. Do you even realize how much you hurt your mom's trust?"

Tyler began to cry and heaved, "Uncle Mason, I don't feel like that. I feel...terrible."

"Go to your room, Tyler. Consider yourself grounded for the next week. That party you guys were planning can happen without you there," Mason informed Tyler sharply.

"Nooooo, please," Tyler whined. "Can't you punish me now?"

Mason took a breath, "I am really upset with you now, Ty. You know I love you, but the paddling I was planning to give you, needs to wait until I can calm down. But the grounding will stand."